A Pure Prize filly was selected by trainer Tony Dutrow as grand champion over 75 other entrants at the 80th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association's Maryland-bred yearling show June 29 at the Timonium Fairgrounds.
The grand champion filly, out of graded stakes winner and Maryland-bred champion He Loves Me, by Not For Love , was the winner of Class IV, for fillies conceived in states other than Maryland. She fit the picture of an athlete and was a beautiful mover, noted Dutrow, who is a regular auction buyer whose purchases have included Grace Hall, Smart and Fancy, In Trouble and Gracer. Dutrow made his selections based on what strikes him when looking for a future runner.
The Pure Prize filly was one of two class winners on the day for David and JoAnn Hayden's Dark Hollow Farm, which also took the blue ribbon in Class II, for colts and geldings conceived in states other than Maryland.
The colt is by Fairbanks and is the first foal out of the Red Bullet mare Silver Ashlee.
The Haydens had previously exhibited the show's champion and reserve champion in 2009. A regular showgoer since the mid-1980s, Dark Hollow Farm has solely, or in partnership, won a total of 10 classes.
Among the yearlings they have taken into the show ring over the years were Hall of Famer and Eclipse Award winner Safely Kept, graded stakes winners Ready's Image, New York Hero and Not for Silver (a half brother to Silver Ashlee) and recent stakes winners Eighttofasttocatch, Plum, Joy and Mystic Love.
All yearlings who entered the show ring are now eligible for the $40,000 premium award, which will be split and distributed twice, with $20,000 going to the exhibitors of the four show contestants who earn the most money as 2-year-olds during 2015, and another $20,000 divided among the exhibitors of the four highest-earning 3-year-old runners the next year.
Youngsters shown by Dark Hollow Farm have rewarded the farm significantly over the years, taking home $122,000 in premium awards since 1986.
The reserve champion, a Great Notion colt out of Mark Me Special, by Haymaker, was the winner of Class I, for colts and geldings foaled in Maryland by Maryland sires. He is owned and was bred by Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Harrison
Struck by the colt's balance and athleticism, Dutrow said the colt has room to grow and mature.
The leading Maryland sire of the show was Friesan Fire , whose first foals are yearlings this year. The son of A.P. Indy stands at Country Life Farm in Bel Air, and took title to the Northview Stallion Station Challenge Trophy by having three ribbon winners--a first, second and fifth--in Class III for fillies.
